Posted By Tom Kensler On March 25, 2010 @ 11:23 am In University of Colorado | No Comments

The fact that Colorado women’s basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller is not expected to attend this afternoon’s groundbreaking for a new practice facility speaks volumes, methinks.

CU has made no announcement about McConnell-Miller’s future. And I’d be surprised if there will be any updates today. Athletic director Mike Bohn wouldn’t want to digress from the joyous ceremony.

But given the fact that McConnell-Miller won’t be there, and from what I know, I do not expect her to be retained.

My guess is that Bohn’s people and her people are working out a severance.

There will probably be some explanation for her absence today, perhaps spending time with family during spring break or being out on a recruiting trip. But had McConnell-Miller been informed that she was coming back, I believe she could have and would have cut short any plans to be at this groundbreaking ceremony. This project was important to her.

Along with men’s basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik, McConnell-Miller helped to champion a new practice facility, which also will be used by women’s volleyball. During the pre-design phase, the coaches went on trips with other CU officials and boosters to check out practice facilities at other Big 12 schools.

A lot of people pulled for McConnell-Miller. She is well-liked. It’s a matter of production. Not enough W’s. Colorado went 65-88 in five seasons under McConnell-Miller. She had one winning record, when the 2007-08 Buffaloes (19-15) reached the WNIT semifinals. But CU failed to build off that momentum and slipped to records of 11-18 in 2008-09 and 13-17 this season, going 3-13 in the Big 12 in both. Her best conference mark was 6-10 during the WNIT season.

The question becomes, where does Bohn look next? I always refer to what I call the “Dick Vitale theory” regarding coaching hires. Vitale contends that athletic directors almost always go in a different direction from their previous hire. It’s human nature. Vitale’s theory is usually proven right.

So I’d be surprised if Bohn hires another coach from a mid-major school (McConnell-Miller came from Tulsa). Look for him to look to the power conferences, either an established head coach or a top assistant.

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